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Employment First Advisory Partnership

2018 Annual Report

Implementation of Colorado's Employment First Strategic Plan

(including 2019 Priorities)

May 20, 2019

in collaboration with the following Colorado Departments:

Education, Health Care Policy and Financing, Higher

Education, Human Services and Labor and Employment

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Contents

Executive Summary……………………………………………………………….. 3

Year Two Mission & Process…………………………………………............ 4

2018 EFAP-related Highlights……………………………………………….. 5

2018 EFAP Agency Partner Implementation Activities…………. 7

EFAP Strategic Priorities for 2019………………………………………… 9

Summary…………………………………………………………………………….. 11

Appendix: 2018 EFAP Member Roster………………………………… 12

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Employment First Advisory Partnership

2018 Annual Report

Implementation of Colorado's Employment First Strategic Plan

Executive Summary

In states embracing an Employment First approach, employment in the general workforce

is the first and preferred outcome in the provision of publicly funded services for all

working age citizens with disabilities, regardless of level of disability. "Employment First"

refers to state systems change initiatives resulting in increased employment outcomes for

people with disabilities.

Senate Bill 16-0771, "Employment First for Persons with Disabilities," established the

state's commitment to improving employment outcomes for Colorado citizens with

disabilities. The legislation, sponsored by Senator John Kefalas, then Representative

Dianne Primavera and Representative Joann Ginal, created an Employment First Advisory

Partnership (EFAP) to identify barriers to employment and make recommendations to the

General Assembly and five state agencies to implement an Employment First framework in

Colorado.

The initial strategic plan2, published November 1, 2017, made recommendations impacting all EFAP agency partners, which includes the Colorado Departments of:

Labor and Employment (CDLE)3, Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), Education (CDE), Human Services (CDHS), and Higher Education (CDHE),

as well as The Colorado Workforce Development Council. Within the strategic plan are proposed changes to departmental practices and structures, including cross-departmental alignment, as well as consideration of innovative pilot projects and creation of an office to coordinate statewide Employment First efforts. The eight recommendations are summarized as follows:

1 https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb16-077 2 Please see "Reports" at https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dvr/state-rehabilitation-council 3 CLDE’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation receives 78.7 percent of its funding through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. For Federal fiscal year 2018, the total amount of grant funds awarded were $44,504,499. The remaining 21.3 percent of the costs ($9,479,458) were funded by State appropriations and re-appropriations.

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1. Produce data for all applicable EFAP agency partners that allow measurement of Colorado's progress toward compliance with federal law requiring people with disabilities receive state-funded services in integrated settings (all EFAP agency partners).

2. Implement department-wide Employment First policies and practices (CDLE, HCPF, and CDE).

3. Implement a training plan for state service providers on evidence-based practice to expand employment outcomes, in conjunction with employer-led initiatives and networks (all EFAP agency partners).

4. Implement a communication plan with messaging describing available services that support the achievement of successful employment outcomes for people with disabilities, including those with the most significant disabilities, which targets employers, educators, people with disabilities and their families (CDLE).

5. Create an Office of Employment First to coordinate cross-departmental efforts to implement Employment First policies, regulations and practices (Colorado).

6. Develop appropriate funding structures that will increase employment service and support capacity (all EFAP agency partners).

7. Design and coordinate locally-based pilot projects to demonstrate the expansion of employment outcomes for people with disabilities through best-practice employment services and supports implementation (all EFAP agency partners).

8. Become a "model employer" for Colorado citizens with disabilities (Colorado).

The present document, Colorado's 2018 annual report, describes Colorado's progress in

implementation of the initial Employment First Strategic Plan recommendations.

Year Two: Mission & Process

Within statute, the State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) is identified as the lead agency to

coordinate inter-departmental collaboration and to make recommendations to the general

assembly and agency partners related to Employment First policies. The SRC has created

an internal Employment First Committee to guide and administer the Employment First

Advisory Partnership. The SRC Employment First Committee met monthly or bi-monthly

throughout the year to create EFAP monthly meeting agendas, resolve administrative

issues and make recommendations to the full EFAP.

In addressing the ongoing work of the EFAP, Senate Bill 16-077 states:

The Employment First Advisory Partnership shall continue to meet, as necessary,

to work on duties set forth in section 8-84-304, to consider revisions to the plan and

to provide advice and expertise relating to the subsequent implementation of the

plan.4

4 C.R.S. 8-84-303 (7) (b)

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The above referenced section (C.R.S. 8-84-304) provides a list of EFAP duties:

The Employment First Advisory Partnership shall:

a) make recommendations to ensure that , in providing publicly funded services,

competitive integrated employment is the primary objective and preferred outcome

for all working age persons with disabilities regardless of level of disability;

b) identify barriers to competitive integrated employment for persons with disabilities;

c) identify unnecessary, inefficient or conflicting agency rules and regulations that

make it more difficult for employers to hire persons with disabilities;

d) identify training and knowledge gaps among agency staff, agency vendors and

individuals with disabilities and their families that may create obstacles or perceived

obstacles;

e) Identify the data available and gaps in data collection that prohibit the

measurement of Colorado's progress toward compliance with Olmstead v. L.C.5

f) Make recommendations relating to pre-vocational services to ensure that, in

compliance with federal law, the services are time-limited and reasonably lead to

competitive integrated employment.

During 2018, nine half-day monthly meetings of the Employment First Advisory

Partnership (EFAP)6 were conducted between April and December. Three EFAP

committees were established early in the 2018 process to evaluate recommendation

strategies, determine revisions, and advise on implementation. Committees on Policy,

Communication/Training and Data were staffed with EFAP members and Subject Matter

Experts identified by the EFAP. Committees met throughout the year, reporting out and

making recommendations to the EFAP on a monthly basis.

The results of the above described process are documented within this report.

2018 EFAP-related Highlights

Senate Bill 18-145 Passage – Senate Bill 18-1457, "Implement Employment First

Recommendations," was passed by the Colorado General Assembly during the 2018

legislative session. The primary intent of this legislation was to define competency

standards for Colorado vendors providing employment services to people with the most

5 Olmstead v. L.C. On June 22, 1999, the United States Supreme Court held in Olmstead v. L.C. that unjustified segregation of persons with disabilities constitutes discrimination in violation of title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Court held that public entities must provide community-based services to persons with disabilities when (1) such services are appropriate; (2) the affected persons do not oppose community-based treatment; and (3) community-based services can be reasonably accommodated, taking into account the resources available to the public entity and the needs of others who are receiving disability services from the entity. For more information please see: https://www.ada.gov/olmstead/olmstead_about.htm 6 Please see Appendix I. for the 2018 Employment First Advisory Partnership member roster. 7 https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb18-145

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significant disabilities. It requires that supported employment service providers funded

through the Colorado Division for Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and HCPF train their

staff through a nationally recognized entity or provide their staff with nationally-

recognized certification within a five-year period. It also requires DVR to add "Discovery"

as a best-practice assessment alternative and directs HCPF to collect annual statistics for

individuals eligible for supported employment services and for individuals served in

congregate and segregated day service settings.

Customized Employment Pilot – Colorado DVR, in collaboration with WINTAC and

YTAC8, began planning for a customized employment pilot program which began in late

2018. This DVR-funded project established pilots in eight Colorado communities including

Colorado Springs, Northglenn, Jefferson County, Aurora, Centennial, Boulder, Longmont

and Alamosa with youth, adults and youth in transition target populations. Local teams

composed of DVR staff, Community Centered Board representatives and service agencies

will receive training from Marc Gold & Associates in discovery, job development/

negotiation and systematic instruction. It is expected that the supported employment

providers participating will receive certification in each of the customized employment

specialty areas. The promise of customized employment, when combined with systematic

instruction techniques, is that all Colorado citizens, no matter how significant their

disability, will be able to engage in competitive integrated employment. It is anticipated

that these projects will be models for expansion across Colorado.

Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program Award – In early December,

2018 the United States Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy

(ODEP) awarded Colorado a grant to receive training and technical assistance through the

Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program. 9 This grant will provide 200

hours of technical support from national subject matter experts to support Colorado's

Employment First strategic plan and efforts to expand supported employment outcomes

for people with serious mental illness.

State Rehabilitation Council (SRC)/EFAP Administrative Support – The SRC and the

EFAP are composed of volunteer members who commit considerable energy to the efforts

of their respective work groups. Providing technical assistance and administrative support

to their efforts is essential in timely scheduling, coordinating and documenting of their

activities. This year the Colorado Workforce Development Council established a

8 WINTAC (Workforce Innovation Technical Assistance Center), YTAC (Vocational Rehabilitation Youth Technical Assistance Center) 9 https://www.dol.gov/odep/pdf/EFSLMPOverview.pdf The applicable EFSLMP objective is to: "Provide mentoring, intensive technical assistance (TA) and training from a national pool of subject matter experts and peer mentors to multi-disciplinary core states as they transform existing policies, service delivery systems, and reimbursement structures to reflect an Employment First approach,"

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collaborative mechanism with DVR to provide essential administrative support to these

two bodies.

2018 EFAP Agency Partner Implementation Activities

The EFAP has made observable progress during 2018 in implementing strategies

recommended within the Employment First Advisory Partnership Strategic Plan. All initial

recommendations and strategies have been reviewed and prioritized with minor

modifications suggested. Below are descriptions of progress made by EFAP agency

partners on each of the 2017 recommendations:

1. Produce data for all applicable EFAP agency partners that allow measurement of Colorado's progress toward compliance with federal law requiring people with disabilities receive state-funded services in integrated settings (all EFAP agency partners). Data collection strategies have been outlined by both DVR and HCPF. HCPF is in the process of implementing a new data-tracking mechanism consistent with HB 18-145 requirements projected to be live late 2018 and available for data reporting late 2019.

2. Implement department-wide Employment First policies and practices (CDLE, HCPF, and CDE).

All three agencies have made progress in developing departmental Employment First initiatives. For more detailed information please see individual departmental reports to their respective legislative committees of reference.

3. Implement a training plan for state service providers on evidence-based practice to expand employment outcomes, in conjunction with employer-led initiatives and networks (all EFAP agency partners). DVR, in conjunction with HCPF, has begun the process to establish rules guiding the training of vendor staff providing supported employment services. They also plan to expand implementation of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model of supported employment across additional disability populations. Finally, DVR has developed plans to implement best-practice Discovery as an alternative assessment within their fee schedule. HCPF has made progress in developing a cost-reimbursement mechanism for service provider training in best-practice supported employment.

4. Implement a communication plan with messaging describing available services that support the achievement of successful employment outcomes for people with

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disabilities, including those with the most significant disabilities, which targets employers, educators, people with disabilities and their families (CDLE). CDLE has created an initial outline of how they would contract for the creation and delivery of such a communication plan if funded.

5. Create an Office of Employment First to coordinate cross-departmental efforts to implement Employment First policies, regulations and practices (Colorado).

DVR/CDLE and HCPF have jointly proposed that a Colorado Office of Employment First be established in 2019 through an appropriation with the 2019-20 Governor's proposed budget.

6. Develop appropriate funding structures that will increase employment service and support capacity (all EFAP agency partners). HCPF has requested funding from the general assembly to conduct a pilot exploring pay-for-performance incentives that would reward service agencies that produce competitive integrated employment outcomes. DVR has developed an enhanced rate structure within its fee schedule for Discovery and Customized Employment Services which applies to customized employment pilot sites (please see detail for the Customized Employment Pilot under the 2018 EFAP-related Highlights section above). It is anticipated that this rate structure will be implemented statewide during 2020 within the DVR Fee Schedule.

7. Design and coordinate locally-based pilot projects to demonstrate the expansion of employment outcomes for people with disabilities through best-practice employment services and supports implementation (all EFAP agency partners). DVR/CDLE has completed planning for eight local pilot projects for customized employment demonstrations scheduled to begin in late 2018.

8. Become a "model employer" for Colorado citizens with disabilities (Colorado).

CDLE has created an initiative to create an inclusive state agency employment

model for recruiting, hiring and retaining people with disabilities, with the intent of

exporting that model to other departments within Colorado state government.

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EFAP Strategic Priorities for 2019

Office of Employment First

Create an office of Employment First to implement, in consultation with the State

Rehabilitation Council and the Governor's office, a cross departmental process within

EFAP agency partners to identify state policy, regulation and practice within the five

state partner agencies that present barriers to Employment First implementation and

develop strategies to remove those barriers and align policy, regulation and practice

between EFAP Agency Partners as described in 8-84-303. The Office shall report their

suggestions to EFAP for inclusion in the annual report to the legislature.

Model Employer

Support Colorado’s efforts to become a model employer for people with disabilities

through:

1. increasing the number of people with disabilities through use of a process

modelled after the federal government affirmative action program in response to

section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act 1973 (goals of having 12% of its workforce be

people with disabilities, and 2% be with targeted disabilities).

2. considering implementation of a non-competitive hiring process modelled after

the federal “Schedule A” hiring authority for people with “an intellectual disability,

severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability.

Benefits Planning

Increase access to high quality benefits planning through cross-departmental

collaboration to produce initiatives such as Disability Benefits 101 (an online benefits

calculator) and increase Community Work Incentives Coordinator availability.

System Capacity Expansion

Create funding structures that allow for capacity expansion consistent with

successful recruitment efforts to fill current and future staffing needs as Employment

First efforts expand. Work with the Community College Systems Office, Talent

FOUND Gateway , media outlets via PSAs, social media and other methods

highlighting the benefits of working as an employment support professional.

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Color Key: Black – Primary Strategy Orange – State Initiative

Green – Funding Issue Blue – Information Dissemination

EFAP Strategic Priorities for 2019 (continued)

Family and Individual Information & Training

Develop a plan for community-based stakeholder information and training sessions

for families, youth and adults with disabilities, professionals and community members

to inform them of employment first initiative for promoting best practices and to

mobilize support implementation within the community.

Website & Messaging

Develop Employment First website to provide youth, adults and families needed

resources on navigating the system which would be person-centered and fully

accessible, mirroring the discovery process based on the interests of individuals and

families. Such a website would also be a clearing house of information for

professionals and educators to access needed resources and information to

Employment First efforts.

Develop professionally designed logo, fact sheet, presentation and social media

platforms to create a consistent message to reach out to job seekers and families

promoting the concept and value of competitive integrated employment, including

benefits planning information in a variety of accessible formats.

Sustainable Funding – Office of Employment First

Obtain additional resources for the Office of Employment First through grant-writing

and public/private partnerships.

Sustainable Funding – DVR Federal Match

Expand matching funds for the Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)

through Long Bill authorization to access the 21.3% state fund to 78.7% federal fund

match.

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Summary

While considerable progress has been made during 2018, significantly more work needs to

be done to achieve the vision expressed within Senate Bill 16-077. With the identification

of the above strategic priorities, the Employment First Advisory Partnership has mapped

out their objectives for 2019. The Employment First Advisory Partnership plans to

continue to meet monthly beginning in March of 2019 and is authorized through statute "to

provide advice and expertise relating to the subsequent implementation of the plan"

through September 1, 2021. The public may review the Strategic Plan and receive ongoing

updates on Employment First Advisory Partnership activities including meeting dates by

visiting our webpage at: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dvr/employment-first-

advisory-partnership . All Employment First Advisory Partnership meetings are open to

the public and citizen participation is encouraged.

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Appendix: 2018 EFAP Member Roster

Contributor Name City of

Residence

Role/Membership Representation

BOYLAN, Marilee

Fort Collins EFAP Co-Chair

State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) Member

SRC Employment First Committee Co-Chair

BROWN, Cari Fort Collins Systems Advocacy Specialist/Communications

Coordinator

The Arc of Larimer County

Advocate for people with intellectual and developmental

disabilities (SB16-077 requirement)

BURNHAM, Candie Denver Executive Director, Atlantis Community

Disability Rights Advocate

CAROL, Katherine Denver EFAP Co-Chair

State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) Member

SRC Employment First Committee Co-Chair

Office of Disability Employment Policy Subject Matter

Expert

Family Representative

DELLEMONACHE,

Cassidy

Fort Collins Co-owner of Tandem Employment Services of Northern

Colorado

Member At Large

(person with a disability and parent of a child with a

disability with an interest in increasing opportunities for

people with autism)

EINHAUS, Carl Denver Director of Student Affairs, Colorado Department of Higher

Education (CDHE)

CDHE Representative (SB 16-077 requirement)

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FERRINGTON, Karen Golden Project Manager MINDSOURCE - Brain Injury Network

Member At Large

(with particular interest in increasing opportunities for

people with acquired brain injury)

HENKE, Patricia Boulder Statewide Program Manager of Supported Employment

Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE),

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

KNOST, Tom Castle Rock Director of Activities and Employment Services, Continuum

of Colorado

Alliance of Colorado Representative

LAWHEAD, Robert “Bob” Boulder Policy Advisor, Colorado Developmental Disabilities

Council

EFAP Co-Chair

State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) Member

SRC Employment First Committee Co-Chair

Association of People Supporting Employment First

(APSE) Member

National association of persons supporting the

implementation of Employment First policies

representative (SB 16-077 requirement)

OLIVER, Katie Thornton Secondary Transition Services Consultant, School to Work

Alliance Program

Exceptional Student Services, Colorado Department of

Education (CDE)

State Rehabilitation Council Member

CDE Representative (SB 16-077 requirement)

SCHAFFNER, Beth

Colorado

Springs

Director of RSA/Shift Project, PEAK Parent Center

State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) Member

SRC Employment First Committee Member

Family Representative

SCILACCI, Jennifer Steamboat

Springs

Manager, Employment First Innovation Unit, Partnership

Engagement and Communications

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Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE),

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

CDLE Representative (SB16-077 requirement)

SMITH, Amy Centennial State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) Chairperson

SRC Employment First Committee Member

Member of the community not connected to any service

agency (SB 16-077 requirement)

TEEGARDIN, Stacey Edgewater Recovery Services Coordinator, Office of Behavioral

Health, Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS)

CDHS Representative (SB 16-077 requirement)

TOBIN, Romie Fort Collins Poudre School District Transition Coordinator

Family Representative

TUCKER, Adam Denver HCBS Benefits Manager

Office of Community Living, Colorado Department of

Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF)

HCPF Representative (SB 16-077 requirement)

WALKER, Bing E. Golden State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) Member

SRC Employment First Committee Member

WANG, Julian Fort Collins Member At Large

Person with a disability who has secured or is seeking

competitive integrated employment

(SB 16-077 requirement)

WHEELER-BERLINER,

Lee

Edgewater Managing Director, Colorado Workforce Development

Council Office

State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) Member

SRC Employment First Committee Member

WINKLER, Josh Aurora Owner, Cripple Concepts

Community Living Advisory Group (CLAG) Member

Colorado Cross Disability Coalition Representative

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Subject Matter Experts (non-voting status)

ADAMS, Caitlin Community Living Coordinator

Governor’s Office of Legal Counsel

DANN, Krista Deputy for Strategic Planning and Continuous

Improvement Unit

Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division

of Vocational Rehabilitation

LAND, Kelley

Project Coordinator, Center on Community Living and

Careers

Indiana Institute on Disability and Community

Indiana University Bloomington

ROBINSON

ROSENBERG, Corry

Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry

JFK Partners, Colorado's UCEDDERS

University of Colorado School of Medicine

TALIERCIO, Katie President

Colorado Association of People Supporting Employment

First (COAPSE)

Home & Community-Based Services Employment Benefits

Specialist

Office of Community Living, Colorado Department of

Health Care Policy and Financing

TANIS, Shea

Assistant Professor

Department of Psychiatry

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Acting Executive Director

Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities